Abstract [en]

Objectives To evaluate primary physiotherapist assessment and management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders in primary care, and to compare patient satisfaction with primary assessment by a physiotherapist or a general practitioner (GP). less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanDesign An observational, retrospective cohort study reviewing medical records, and a separate consecutive non-randomised study of patient satisfaction. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanSetting Primary healthcare centre. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanParticipants Four hundred and thirty-two patients with musculoskeletal disorders, primarily assessed by a physiotherapist. Fifty-one of these patients primarily assessed by a physiotherapist and 42 patients assessed by a GP answered a patient satisfaction questionnaire. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanInterventions Primary assessment and management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMain outcome measures Data from medical records within 3-month after the visit, and patient satisfaction questionnaire. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults Eighty-five percent (367/432) of patients did not need to see a GP. Serious pathologies were found among the 6% (26/432) of patients who were referred to a GP by a physiotherapist, but no serious pathologies were found among the 9% (39/432) of patients who subsequently returned for a GP appointment for the same disorder. Patients assessed by a physiotherapist were more satisfied with the information received about their disorder and self-care than patients assessed by a GP. Patients also had higher confidence in the ability of physiotherapists to assess their disorder (P andlt; 0.002). less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusion Physiotherapists can be considered primary assessors of patients with musculoskeletal disorders in primary care as few patients needed additional assessment by a GP, patients with confirmed serious pathologies were identified by the physiotherapists, and patients were satisfied with assessment by a physiotherapist.